Spin-stabilized projectile

ABSTRACT

A spin-stabilized projectile with a guide band which is composed of at least two annular sub-guide bands that lie axially one behind the other is provided. An object of the invention is to ensure a durability of the connection between the multi-part guide band and the corresponding projectile body of the projectile even when high centrifugal forces act on the guide band, such as those centrifugal forces that occur in artillery projectiles. To achieve this, each of the sub-guide bands lies in a separate groove of the projectile.

This nonprovisional application is a continuation of InternationalApplication No. PCT/EP2011/000033, which was filed on Jan. 7, 2011, andwhich claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2010 006221.9, which was filed in Germany on Jan. 28, 2010, and which are bothherein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a spin-stabilized projectile with aguide band.

2. Description of the Background Art

Spin-stabilized projectiles are used in particular for artilleryammunition with a guide band arranged at the rear that is pressed into acorresponding dovetail groove of the projectile. The guide band can bemade of one or more parts, whereby in the event of a multiple part guideband, the axially adjacent annular sub-guide bands are also locatedwithin the dovetail groove of the projectile. The sub-guide bands can bemade of different materials (e.g. of brass and soft iron) (DE 198 18 411A1, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,353).

It has proven disadvantageous that with modern artillery projectiles, asa result of the high revolution rate and the resulting high centrifugalforce produced, and the relatively large width of the guide bands ofapproximately 35 to 40 mm with these projectiles, durability of theshape-locking connection between the respective guide band and theprojectile body is frequently not achieved. Rather, lifting or tearingof the respective guide band can occur as a result of the highcentrifugal force acting on the guide band, which adversely affects theballistics of the projectile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to disclose a spin stabilizedprojectile, whereby the durability of the connection between amulti-part guide band and the corresponding projectile body is ensuredif centrifugal forces act on the guide band such as those that occurwith artillery projectiles.

In an embodiment, each of the sub-guide bands is arranged in a separategroove of the projectile. The shape and arrangement of the grooves isdependent on the respective application, whereby the shape of a dovetailgroove presents itself as preferred—indeed inter alia a guide band isknown from U.S. Pat. No. 2,809,587 A, which comprises a plurality ofthin ribs that are spaced apart and that are filled with a fillermaterial forming the guide band, but the technical implementation isvery costly. In addition, this can also lead to tearing of the sub-guidebands.

It has proven advantageous when the axial separation of adjacentdovetail grooves and/or the respective mutually facing areas of thesub-guide bands are selected in such a way that the sub-guide bands aredirectly adjacent to each other. However, the sub-guide bands can bedesigned so as to allow “flowing” of the material during the passagethrough the pipe when necessary.

By replacing a single, relatively long (dovetail) groove with severalshorter (dovetail) grooves, the centrifugal forces that occur can bedistributed better. By selecting suitable materials for the sub-guidebands, both the durability of the connection of the sub-guide bands tothe projectile body can be guaranteed and guide band wear can bereduced.

The sub-guide bands can be made of the same material or of differentmaterials, in order, for example, to ensure both high wear resistanceand good slip capability. Thus, for example, the first sub-guide bandlooking in the firing direction can be made of brass and the secondsub-guide band can be made of soft iron.

It is also possible for at least one sub-guide band of the projectile touse a material that closes (repairs) defective areas of the innersurface of the corresponding weapon barrel when the projectile is fired.

Thus in order to achieve guaranteed durability of the connection betweenthe multi-part guide band and the corresponding projectile body, evenwhen high centrifugal forces are acting on the guide band, as occurswith artillery projectiles, it is now proposed to arrange each sub-guideband in a separate groove, preferably of dovetail form, of theprojectile.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawingswhich are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitiveof the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross section of a projectile according to anembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates another variant of the bonding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through the rear region of aspin-stabilized explosive projectile 1. Here the projectile casing andthe explosive charge of the projectile 1 are identified by referencenumerals 2 and 3 respectively.

The projectile 1 comprises a guide band 4 that includes preferably twoannular sub-guide bands 5,6 arranged axially one after the other. Here,looking in the direction of firing, the first (leading) sub-guide band 5can be made of brass and the second (rearmost) sub-guide band 6 can bemade of soft iron.

According to the invention it is now provided that each of the (two)sub-guide bands 5, 6 is arranged in a separate groove 7, 8 of theprojectile casing 2 on the projectile body side, and this so that theaxial separation of the (two) dovetail grooves 7, 8 and/or the mutuallyfacing regions 9, 10 of the sub-guide bands 5, 6 are selected so thatthe sub-guide bands 5, 6 are directly joined to each other.

FIG. 2 shows another variant of the bonding of the sub-guide bands 5, 6,which here have a distance 11 between them, at least in the upperregion. This arrangement allows the bands to flow during the passage ofthe projectile 1 through the pipe.

Naturally, the invention is not restricted to the embodiment describedabove. On the contrary, more than two sub-guide bands can be arranged inmore than two adjoining dovetail grooves. The sub-guide bands in theindividual dovetail grooves can also be made of the same material ifthis is appropriate (e.g. when using a certain ammunition or a suitableweapon barrel).

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to beincluded within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A spin-stabilized projectile comprising: at leastone groove; and a guide band that has at least two annular sub-guidebands arranged axially one after the other, each of the sub-guide bandsbeing arranged in a separate groove of the projectile; wherein a shapeand arrangement of the groove is based on a respective application,wherein the groove is a dovetail groove and an axial separation ofadjacent grooves and/or mutually facing regions of the sub-guide bandsare selected so that the sub-guide bands are directly joined together orhave a separation at least in the upper region.
 2. The spin-stabilizedprojectile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sub-guide bands are formedof different materials.
 3. The spin-stabilized projectile as claimed inclaim 2, wherein, in a case of a guide band having at least twosub-guide bands when viewed in a firing direction, the first sub-guideband is formed of brass and the second, rear sub-guide band is formed ofsoft iron.